Pool Fun

It was so busy last weekend that I didn't get to post but we hope all of our family and friends had a great Memorial Day Weekend. Brett and Trevor are both out of school right now and enjoying it.

Abbey, Brett's girlfriend, left for Africa for two weeks on Wednesay so up until then he was spending every minute he could with her. I should have some pictures of him too this week....I swear the boy does exist:)

I took Trevor to the park a few times.....

Alexis at Rocky Point Park

Trevor is still quite the monkey.

We cooked a lot this past week. Doing a flambe never gets old!

Trevor had his friend DJ spend the night for a few nights during Memorial Day weekend. Here they are playing with an underwater skateboard thing. I swear Trevor looks like he is surfing in both of these shots!

And then yesterday, there was the pool again. (watch with high speed connnection)

Everyone have a great week! Travel safe Mom & Dad

School is almost out????

It's hard to believe that this is the last week of school for Trevor before the summer break. Punk!

What's gone on since the last update?

Last weekend was the Blount BBQ Bash and I was a volunteer again. I was thrilled because I got to spend 8 hours Friday with George Ewart (local architect, BBQ champ, and soon to be restauranteur) and Chris Lilly (VP of Big Bob Gibson's and multi-time winner of HUGE BBQ events like Memphis In May, American Royal, etc). George and I helped Chris prepare 5 dishes from his new book for a cooking class he did that night. You might have seen him on the Today Show on Tuesday morning.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I learned so much from both of them in that short time. Saturday, Alexis and Trevor helped Chris sell his new book at the event. Fun times.

Not going to volunteer next year, Robert (martial arts instructor) and I are forming a competitive BBQ team. We're going to try out the TN State Championship in October. I'll be happy to not finish dead last but you have to start somewhere right? Our name is going to be "Que-Jitsu" (like jiu-jitsu, brazillian and japanese fighting style).

This weekend, we were going to go for a country back road drive but it was raining the whole weekend so we opted against it. But we still did Cracker Barrel for breakfast at Trevor's request. Is that place a heart attack waiting to happen or what?

I cooked a bunch and did a bit of unexpected home repair. Half of the basement outlets were out or intermittent. Turned out an outlet shorted out by losing a neutral wire. This caused false readings on my tester telling me that half of the outlets went from being fine to suddently having their ground and hot wiring REVERSED!?!?! Thank god for the internet because I found the EXACT cause and solution with three clicks. TIP: Do NOT use the push connection (backstabbing) on the back of replacement outlets....use the screw down terminals instead. That is was caused our problem.

My feature ran in the Knox NewsSentinel today. I look striking in print, ha ha. Actually, the pics online aren't the same as the three they used in print.

Brett and Abbey are doing well. I think he's going to go nuts when she goes to Africa for her trip this summer. Maybe he'll find enough pick up games to keep himself busy:)

Carson is coming to visit next month for his 40th birthday. He and Scott are driving their motorcycles for a back roads trip for the week with Knox being their turnaround point, letting them go through The Dragon*, twice.

I guess that's about it. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

*the famous Dragon, home to 318 turns in 11 miles of scenic and twisty US 129. With no distractions, the Dragon winds its way up and over the mountains of Tennessee into North Carolina and is the gateway for all NC has to offer. Like the land that time forgot, you will not find any driveways, gas stations, subdivisions or mini malls. In place of all the hustle and bustle of big city life, you will find many scenic and beautiful places to stop and take time to soak in all the natural beauty. Many people have come for a visit here and moved here not long after!

Swine Flu

Well, Trevor has the day off tomorrow because the second case of swine flu in Knoxville was at his school and they have closed the school (which is the school the Superintendent's two kids attend). The only other case in Knox County was at West Valley Middle School, just 2 miles down the street.

Anyone suppose I can get a prescription for a case of baby back ribs if I come down with swine flu?

Trevor waiting this afternoon for his friend Jack to show up at the pool.A view this afternoon from the top of our property at work, across East Knoxville and towards Mt LeConte in the distance.

Hanging basket arrangement that Alexis put together.Looking forward to the Blount BBQ Bash this weekend, but will need some mud boots after 4 straight days of rain and more projected for this weekend.